Basket

ABSTRACT

The basket of the present invention comprises a lateral surface, a bottom and a handle ( 12 ), said basket being formed from at least a sheet provided with a plurality of folding lines, and it is characterized in that said handle extends downwardly into a partition ( 11 ) which divides the basket into two housings. Said partition ( 11 ) is preferably joined to the bottom of the basket. It is obtained a very light basket, and which occupies a reduced space if transported in its unfolded position, with a great strength and suitable to transport heavy products, such as bottles.

The present invention refers to a basket, comprising a handle, andespecially suitable to transport food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are known baskets for a long time which are used to transportproducts, such as food, which are provided with a handle to facilitateits transportation.

These baskets are especially suitable to be used in outdoors meals, suchas in the country or in a ship, because they are especially designed totransport food.

The baskets actually known are rigid, i.e. they can not be folded beforeor after their use, which involves that they occupy a considerable spaceeven if they are empty. Furthermore, because of their cost, they can notbe discarded after a single use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With the basket of the invention said drawbacks are solved, presentingother advantages that will be described.

The basket of the present invention comprises a lateral surface, abottom and a handle, said basket being formed from at least a sheetprovided with a plurality of folding lines, and it is characterized inthat said handle extends downwardly into a partition which divides thebasket into two housings.

Thanks to this feature, it is obtained a very light basket, and itoccupies a reduced space if transported in its unfolded position, with agreat strength and suitable to transport heavy products, such asbottles.

Advantageously, said partition is joined to the bottom of the basket,providing to the basket of the present invention a great strength.

Furthermore, each housing can comprise a closing flap to prevent theaccidental exit of the products from the basket.

Advantageously, each closing flap comprises at least a hole, to permitto place inside the basket products with a greater height, such asbottles, whose neck will protrude through said holes.

According to a preferred embodiment, said handle and its partition areformed by two central flaps, each one provided with a pair ofprotrusions, which are inserted inside grooves provided at the lateralsurface of the basket. Therefore, the handle and the partition have agreat strength, and the basket can be used with a heavy weight, suitablewith the use of the basket.

According to a first embodiment, the basket of the present invention isformed from only a sheet comprising:

-   -   a pair of first sectors and a pair of second sectors joined to        each other by joining sectors, defining the lateral surface of        the basket;    -   a pair of lower sectors, each one joined to a second sector,        defining the bottom of the basket;    -   four lower flaps, each one joined to one of said first sectors        and to a lower sector, which are placed on the bottom of the        basket, in its use position;    -   two closing flaps joined, each one, to one of said second        sectors in a position opposed to the lower sectors; and    -   two central flaps joined to said lower sectors, defining the        partition separating the basket into two housings and the        handle.

According to a second embodiment, the basket is formed from twoidentical sheets joined to each other, each one of said sheetcomprising:

-   -   a first sector and a second sector joined to each other by        joining sectors, defining the lateral surface of the basket        together with the first and the second sectors of the other        sheet;    -   a lower sector, each one joined to a second sector, defining the        bottom of the basket together with the lower sector of the other        sheet;    -   two lower flaps, each one joined to said first sector and to a        lower sector, which are placed on the bottom of the basket, in        its use position;    -   a closing flap joined to said second sector in a position        opposed to the lower sectors; and    -   a central flap joined to said lower sectors, defining the        partition separating the basket into two housings and the handle        together with the central flap of the other sheet.

Preferably, said grooves are provided, each one, at one of said firstsectors.

The basket of the present invention is preferably made from cardboard orplastic material.

If wished said partition can comprise a hole to communicate both housingto each other, permitting a better placement of the contents of thebasket.

Furthermore, the basket of the present invention also can comprise atleast an internal partition to divide at least one of said housings.

If wished, the lateral surface of the basket of the present inventioncomprises at least a hole to see inside the basket.

Thanks to the reduced cost of the basket of the present invention, ifthe user wants, he/she can dispose it even thought it was used onlyonce.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding that has been described some drawings areattached in which, diagrammatically and only as a non-limitativeexample, a practical case of embodiment is shown.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the sheet from which the basket of the presentinvention is formed, in an unfolded position;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are perspective views of the assembly process of the basketof the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the basket of the present invention inits mounted position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sheet from which the basket of the presentinvention is formed, in an unfolded position, according to a secondembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the basket of the present invention withthe lips opened, and internal partitions can be seen; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a sheet, the basket of the present inventionbeing formed from two of these sheets joined together, according to analternative embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 it is shown the sheet which forms the basket of the presentinvention, which can be from cardboard or plastic material.

This sheet comprises a plurality of folding lines defining:

-   -   a pair of first sectors 1 and a pair of second sectors 2 joined        to each other by joining sectors 3, defining the lateral surface        of the basket;    -   a pair of lower sectors 4, each one joined to a second sector 2,        defining the bottom of the basket;    -   four lower flaps 5, each one joined to one of said first sectors        1 and to a lower sector 4, which are placed on the bottom of the        basket, in its use position;    -   a pair of closing flaps 6 joined, each one, to one of the second        sectors 2 in a position opposed to the lower sectors 4; and    -   a pair of central flaps 7 joined to the lower sectors 4,        defining a dividing partition 11 which divides the basket into        two housings and a handle 12, as will be described hereinafter.

Each one of said first sectors 1 comprises a groove 8, inside whichprotrusions 9 provided at the central flaps 7 will be housed.

Furthermore, the closing flaps 6 comprise a series of holes 10, topermit said flaps to be opened and also to permit the products with aheight greater than the height of the basket, such as bottles, e.g., topass through them.

To mount the described sheet of FIG. 1, first both joining sectors 3 ofthe ends must the joined, as it can be been in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Then, the lower sectors 4 and the lower flaps 5 are folded and thecentral flaps 7 pass through the lower flaps 5 to form a centralpartition of the basket.

Once placed the central flaps 7 in their position, their protrusions 9are housed inside the grooves 8 provided at the first sectors 1.

Finally, the closing flaps 6 are folded to close both housings, as itcan be seen in FIG. 4. It must be pointed out that these closing flaps 6are not essential, because they can be removed depending on the productwhich is to be transported with the basket of the present invention.

Therefore, it is obtained a basket provided with a central partition 11with a handle 12 in its upper part, which separates the basket into twohousings, which can be closed thanks to the closing flaps 6.

The basket can be transported with a heavy weight because the handle 12is formed by two layers of material (both central flaps 7), which have agreat strength, and also thanks to the fact that said central flaps 7comprise the protrusions 9 which are housed inside the grooves 8.

Furthermore, the bottom of the basket has also a great strength thanksto the presence of three layers of material (the lower sector 4 and twolower flaps 5).

In FIG. 6 is shown an alternative embodiment from that shown in theprevious drawings. In this embodiment the only difference is thepresence of holes 13 at the central flaps 7 and holes 15 at the firstsectors 1.

The holes 13 permit to distribute better the contents of the basket, andany product can be placed crossing the central partition 11.

The holes 15 permit to see inside the basket. If wished, these holes 15can be closed with transparent sheet material not preventing to seeinside the basket, but permitting to isolate the contents of the basketfrom the outside.

In FIG. 7 is shown the basket of the present invention provided withadditional internal partitions 14 to divide the basket into differenthousings.

It must be pointed out that inside the basket some suitable accessoriescan be placed taking into account the products to be transported. E.g.,it could be placed horizontally a sheet with holes to place bottles.

Finally, in FIG. 8 it is shown an alternative embodiment of the sheetforming the basket of the present invention shown in FIG. 1. In thiscase he sheet is divided in two, and it can be seen that both sheets areidentical and, the joining of both sheets results in the sheet shown inFIG. 1.

Even though reference is made to an specific embodiment of theinvention, it is apparent for a person skilled in the art that thedescribed basket is susceptible of numerous variations andmodifications, and that all the details mentioned can be substituted byother technically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope ofprotection defined by the attached claims.

1. A basket, comprising a lateral surface, a bottom and a handle, saidbasket being formed from at least one sheet provided with a plurality offolding lines, wherein said handle extends downwardly into a partitionwhich divides the basket into two housings, wherein said partition isjoined to the bottom of the basket, said sheet further comprising twocentral flaps forming said handle and said partition, each of saidcentral flaps comprising a pair of protrusions inserted into groovesprovided in the lateral surface of the basket.
 2. (canceled)
 3. Thebasket according to claim 1, wherein each housing comprises a closingflap.
 4. The basket according to claim 3, wherein each closing flapcomprises at least one hole.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The basket according toclaim 1, wherein the basket is formed from a sheet comprising: a pair offirst sectors and a pair of second sectors joined to each other byjoining sectors, the pair of first sectors and the pair of secondsectors and the joining sectors defining the lateral surface of thebasket; a pair of lower sectors, each one joined to one of said secondsectors, the lower sectors defining the bottom of the basket; four lowerflaps, each one joined to one of said first sectors and three of thefour lower flaps joined to one of said lower sectors sector, wherein thelower flaps are positioned on the bottom of the basket when the basketis in its use position; two closing flaps, each one joined to one ofsaid second sectors at the edge opposite to the lower sectors; and twocentral flaps each one joined to one of said lower sectors, the centralflaps defining both the partition separating the basket into twohousings and the handle.
 7. The basket according to claim 1, wherein thebasket is formed from two identical sheets joined to each other, each ofsaid sheets comprising: a first sector and a second sector joined toeach other by joining sectors, defining the lateral surface of thebasket together with the first and the second sectors of the othersheet; a lower sector joined to said second sector, the lower sectordefining the bottom of the basket together with the lower sector of theother sheet; two lower flaps, each one joined to said first sector andone of the two lower flaps joined to said lower sector, wherein thelower flaps are positioned on the bottom of the basket when the basketis in its use position; a closing flap joined to said second sector atthe edge opposite to the lower sectors; and a central flap joined tosaid lower sector sectors, the central flap together with the centralflap of the other sheet defining the partition separating the basketinto two housings and the handle.
 8. The basket according to and claim6, further comprising grooves in each of said first sectors, and furthercomprising a pair of protrusions on each central flap, said protrusionsinserted into said grooves when the basket is in its use position. 9.The basket according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sheet iscomprised of cardboard or plastic material.
 10. The basket according toclaim 1, wherein said partition comprises a hole connecting bothhousings to each other.
 11. The basket according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one internal partition dividing at least one of saidhousings.
 12. The basket according to claim 1, wherein the lateralsurface of the basket comprises at least one hole.
 13. The basketaccording to claim 6, wherein said sheet is comprised of cardboard orplastic material.
 14. The basket according to claim 7, wherein said twoidentical sheets are comprised of cardboard or plastic material.
 15. Afoldable sheet formable into a basket comprising a lateral surface, abottom and a handle, said foldable sheet comprising: a plurality offolding lines; a pair of first sectors and a pair of second sectorsjoined to each other by joining sectors, the pair of first sectors andthe pair of second sectors and the joining sectors defining the lateralsurface of the basket; a pair of lower sector, each one joined to one ofsaid second sectors, the lower sectors defining the bottom of thebasket; four lower flaps, each one joined to one of said first sectorsand three of the four lower flaps joined to one of said lower sectors,wherein the lower flaps are positionable on the bottom of the basketwhen the basket is in its use position; two closing flaps, each onejoined to one of said second sectors at the edge opposite to the lowersectors; and two central flaps each one joined to one of said lowersectors, the central flaps defining both the partition separating thebasket into two housings and the handle.
 16. The foldable sheetaccording to claim 15, wherein the foldable sheet is comprised ofcardboard or plastic material.
 17. A foldable sheet formable into abasket together with a second identical foldable sheet, said basketcomprising a lateral surface, a bottom and a handle, said foldable sheetcomprising: a plurality of folding lines; a first sector and a secondsector joined to each other by joining sectors, defining the lateralsurface of the basket together with the first and the second sectors ofthe other sheet; a lower sector joined to said second sector, the lowersector defining the bottom of the basket together with the lower sectorof the other sheet; two lower flaps, each one joined to said firstsector and one of the two lower flaps joined to said lower sector,wherein the lower flaps are positionable on the bottom of the basketwhen the basket is in its use position; a closing flap joined to saidsecond sector at the edge opposite to the lower sectors; and a centralflap joined to said lower sector the central flap together with thecentral flap of the other sheet defining the partition separating thebasket into two housings and the handle.
 18. The foldable sheetaccording to claim 17, wherein the foldable sheet is comprised ofcardboard or plastic material.